~ … He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream…for it does not cease to bear fruit.” – Jeremiah 17:7-8

Tag Archives: Prayer

Summertime. What would be summer without a little family get-away? For years we have taken a family vacation during the summer. Some years it was just a day trip to a theme park, or perhaps camping a few days. Other years we splurged and went out of state on a grand road trip. No matter which of the above you ask our boys about I think they will say that they have fond memories and treasure those times we spent just being together. I mean, who could forget the hours of car games we’ve played such as ‘Who am I thinking of’, Which is Worse, or Would You Rather?…’

There was the time we went to Santa Claus and Jasper Indiana and to Holiday World, that one was such an enjoyable time we went back a second year! There was the camping trips to Mark Twain Lake and down to Mammoth Springs, Arkansas. There were also the little adventures of camping at my parent’s farm. Those were certainly peaceful and different! One year my youngest son and I spent a week with my grandmother which is one I particularly treasure. Time well spent.

Wherever we’ve gone or whatever we’ve done it has led to many treasured memories and we love to sit around talking about those times. I think making memories for your kids is so important and I’ve always made an effort to make every event a memorable one. So when my oldest son graduated high school we took one of our most loved trips to Colorado so it was only fitting that this year, as my youngest son prepares for his senior year of high school, we are planning another ‘grand adventure’. Being a history buff of sorts we thought he would particularly enjoy a trip to the South and tour Civil War battlegrounds, old antebellum homes, and see the Gulf of Mexico. So, tomorrow we are heading to Mississippi. Not necessarily a place many would consider for a vacation, but I have a feeling it will be pretty memorable. Not only will this be a trip to mark Samuel’s graduation year, but also it will most likely be the last vacation we take as a family of four and that has its own importance. I’m not sure anyone else in the family has had this thought, but being the mother I have and I can tear up at just the thought of it. My family has always been my first priority, after God of course. My husband and I adore our sons and find them to be a blessing from the Lord. The thought of them not being at home or going on trips with us is one I’m not quite used to yet, but know I must prepare for. My oldest son is 21 years old now, a junior in college and is more than ready to be out on his own, and should be I don’t deny. My youngest soon will head off to college, be it near home or far away, he too is growing up and I must allow them both to spread their wings as I sweep out the feathers from the nest. At times I’ve thought to myself that I no longer enjoy being a mother, of course I don’t mean that literally, but when the children you have spent your life on are out the door (or at least have the door open) you must allow them to go and that can be hard on a mother’s heart.

I was reminded the other day of how it really never changes for moms. I was visiting a dear friend who just happens to be a new mother. Yes, I’m blessed to have friends who are younger than I and I treasure that. She was preparing to put her little boy in his own bed for the first time, he is 3 months old. She was nervous and a bit apprehensive and I knew exactly how she felt. How many times we as mothers have to deal with these firsts. First night in their bed, first steps alone, first time with a sitter, first day of school, first day of college…on and on. It never gets easy and they are all scary times for parents, but I have learned through all of these firsts to trust God all the more. I think God uses our children to teach us how to be better Children ourselves. By turning my children over to Him, even though at times it has seemed He has had to almost pry them out of my hands, I have learned how loving our Father is. How perfect of a plan He really has for those who love Him.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

So, with mixed feelings I begin to pack for this vacation. We are all excited to get away and spend time together uninterrupted, but in the back of my mind I’ll be tucking away moments to ponder on in later years. Of course, we’ll have more vacations together, but eventually they will include spouses, then grandchildren; which will be wonderful in its own way, but gone will be the days of the “Martin Four” and that is certainly worth pondering on.

This evening I shared in a very touching event. Ten other sisters in Christ along with myself gathered for a time of prayer for 2 in the group. One is caring for an elderly mother who is near passing to be with Christ, and the other is carrying the burden and pain of family troubles. As I sat in this circle of women and listened as each one lifted up each of these women to the Lord it hit me, “Yes! This is it.” This is what Believers do. We are there for one another. We are interceding, encouraging, helping with physical needs as well as spiritual ones. I saw this small group of ladies of all ages and stages in life come together with one thing in mind, bowing before our Lord on behalf of someone else and seeking God’s perfect and just will.

I have felt for a long time that we as Christians need to get back to the basics. We need to seek out the hurting brothers and sisters in Christ and exhort them, pray for them, love them. We need to take an interest in each other’s lives. Isn’t that what they did in the early Church? They would sell all they had if one of the brothers was in need. We have enough large events, conferences, retreats, the list goes on and on. Loud speakers, loud music, and too much food. What we all need is a little small group time with a group of fellow Believers who love to talk about the Lord and a cup of coffee. That’s it. Give me 5 close friends who love the Lord around a kitchen table any day over a huge conference and thousands in the bleachers. Some of my favorite discussions happen after such an event as I chat with my closest friends about what God is doing in our lives. We just need to talk to one another.

Prior to this time of prayer I had sat with another great friend as we prayed for our students, and for God to move on their young and lost souls. How utterly amazing it is to be able to hand over all your cares and worries to God and know that He has heard. I feel God is moving among us and I am so ready!

Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.

The effective and fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16b

God hears us and when our desires are His desires then things start to happen. By that I mean our desires have changed and have become what He has desired all along. Tonight I think we all agreed we need to get together and do this more. It not only lifted and blessed the two who are hurting, but it also blessed and encouraged us who had come to pray. I hope this sparks a much needed interest in the more intimate things of Christ among Believers. I feel very blessed to have been involved with interceding for my sisters and also for the youth who need Christ so much. I will continue to pray and expect great and marvelous things from our Lord.

As I write this entry I have to tell you that I’m not feeling the best, so bear with me. My throat is sore and my body aches, but still I write. Talk about dedication! (If that is what you’d call it.)

We have church on Wednesday nights where my family and I attend. We call it Family Night and it is a great time of fellowship and learning. We have a great meal served up “family-style” and afterwards everyone has different Bible studies to choose from. I’m involved in our children’s program which is AWANA. If you haven’t heard of AWANA it is really a fun program that puts the Word of God into the minds and hearts of children. Anyway, this was our second night of AWANA this past Wednesday. My son, Paul, is the Children’s minister and he has a great way with kids. We sang our songs, recited our verses then settled the kids down for the Bible lesson taught by Paul. I thought it would be a difficult feat, to settle down pre-school thru 6th graders. Imagine my surprise- Picture this; Paul gets up before this group of children in our church’s sanctuary, opens his Bible to Genesis, Chapter one, and proceeds to read. He read the account of creation word for word right out of God’s Word. He didn’t use simple language for kids, he didn’t use a Children’s Bible, he didn’t show pictures as he read, he just read. As I looked around the room I was so touched to see these kids, who had been so rambunctious just moments earlier, sitting and gazing at Paul as he read. They were entranced by what he was reading. My group, the Kindergarten thru 2nd graders, literally were sitting with their mouths gaping open with their eyes fixed on Paul as he read. You may be wondering why I was so touched and also amazed at this. It just proved to me that the Word of God has Power.

We sometimes think that children are too young to understand the Truths of God’s Word. So, some will water it down thinking it will be easier for their little minds to comprehend. There are all sorts of children’s Bibles available at our local Bible bookstore. There are videos with loveable cartoon characters that will make it more fun to learn God’s Word. There are games, music CDs, and tons of gimmicks, but when you clear all of that clutter way, what really gets into their hearts and minds is just the simple Truth. We don’t really need all of that stuff. Oh, don’t get me wrong. It’s all good, but don’t think that they won’t understand or be interested if you read to them straight from the scriptures. The same scriptures you read each day. God’s word is powerful.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God [is] living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

If you could have seen those kids you would understand what I mean. They listened with mouths and hearts open. It was all new and exciting to them. We all could take a lesson from that.

Matthew 18:3-6

And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.

But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

On another note: My friends, Rod and Nikki, are expecting their first child. They were able to see the heartbeat this past week and once again I was awestruck by God, our Great Creator. This precious baby is the size of a blueberry AND you can see the tiny little heart inside just beating away. Now if that doesn’t speak, no shout MIRACLE to you, I don’t know what else could! God is so AMAZING!

Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat. Yes come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Isaiah 55:1-2

This has been a long week for me. It started out great, a visit from family whom we have not seen in quite a while. Time with family is never long enough and this visit was cut short due to a family emergency back in Kansas. I guess actually it ended great too, it was just incredibly long for some reason. Ever have one of those weeks?

I think I know the culprit to my exhausting week. I’ve been neglecting my prayer time and Bible reading time and I think it is catching up with me. I have thought about it and I’m ashamed to say I was always too tired, or too busy to do it. I’ve even felt a nudge from God day to day telling me He wanted me to talk to Him. Somehow I always fell asleep or had something more pressing to accomplish. It’s like when I go all day long feeling thirsty but I am just so busy I never stop to get a drink; or drink all the wrong things like a soda or juice when what my body is crying for is good old fashioned water. Finally when I do reach for the H2O I’m headache bound and feeling horrible.

In the same way I have been thirsty for God and I’ve been too busy to get a drink. Why do I do that? Why do I deny myself the One thing that will quench my soul? I know that when I do take the time each day things go better. Not to say difficult days don’t come, but I have the ability to handle them the way God would have me to, because I’ve spent time talking with my Father.

The good thing is, He is still here. He is waiting for me to sit down in His quiet and listen for that still small voice. He is waiting for me to open His Word so He can speak to me the desires of His heart and guide my steps as he has done time and time again. He is always there, even when I drift away, too busy to stop for a moment with Him. Yes, He is there. He never forgets.

Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands. Isaiah 49:15-16

Thank you Lord, for not forgetting me. Even when I allow the day to day hustle and bustle to distract me You are there waiting to give me Your Water. Speak to my heart in those times Lord, causing me to stop and rejoice in Your Joy and Your Presence. In Jesus’ Name

Blessings Today,

Pammy Liz

Written May, 2004. I was asked by our Pastor to give a talk on what motherhood meant to me. A lot has changed since I first wrote this; Paul is now a Sophomore in college and Samuel is a Junior in High School. I would not trade a day or even a minute that I had to spend with my boys as they grew up. God is honoring my prayers as I see our boys grow into strong, Christian men. I wanted to share this with all of the moms out there who may be going through the same fears I have gone through myself. Blessings Today,

What does being the mother of teenagers mean to me? Well, I’ve thought about this for some time, trying to come up with some deep inspiration to share. I don’t think I’ve been successful at that but I will share what it has been like for me so far.

I decided when Paul was born that my focus in life would be to stay home and be a MOM. Gladly I gave up working outside the home to watch Sesame Street and Winnie the Pooh. There isn’t one ounce of regret for this decision, and I strongly encourage any new mother out there to seriously consider this. God will reward you, and you can make it.

I guess I always thought things would be easier when my boys were older. There would be more time for ME, I’d get to do my own thing and I wouldn’t have to worry so much. Well…we all know that just isn’t true. I am finding out that although I don’t have to rock them to sleep anymore, get up in the middle of the night with them, guard over them while they are outside playing, they still need me just as much, just in a different way. They may be more physically able to care for themselves, but emotionally and spiritually I still have work to do. And being a mother, I don’t mind at all. After all, that’s what I’m here for.

I remember when Paul was getting ready to go into Jr. High. I was in a panic! I wasn’t ready for this. I had just taken a job at school, which is a blessing in itself, and I saw how some of kids behaved in Jr. High! I was scared to death! Would he be able to handle it? Would I be able to handle it? What was going to happen? I had visions of all the trouble he could get into and I really felt out of control. It was, for me, as scary as when he started Kindergarten. But, I remember one morning being deep in prayer with God telling HIM all about my fears and it occurred to me, or rather God spoke to my heart and told me, that I really had nothing to fear! Paul and Samuel both came to know the Lord at a young age, they belong to God! They are children of the King. He loves them more than I do! He wasn’t going to let anything dreadful happen to HIS children. Why was I so afraid? So right then and there I totally gave both of my boys back to God. They are His and He has a plan for them. My job is to teach them His ways and how to Love Him. Once I discovered this, everything was fine. I could sleep again at night without waking up in fear of what the world was going to do to my son when he entered Jr. High and eventually High School. Now, Paul is in High School and Samuel, my baby, is getting ready for Jr. High, but you know what? I’m not afraid this time because I know that his Heavenly Father is holding his hand every step of the way. Just like that same Heavenly Father is holding my hand as I raise my sons.

My advice to mothers is very simple. It is the greatest secret that is no secret at all. From the moment you know you are going to be blessed with a child, PRAY. Pray for that child to know the Lord, pray for their protection from things unseen, pray for guidance as you raise that child and one thing that I prayed for when Paul was in 6th grade ( because remember I was in a panic), and I’m praying this for Samuel now as he gets ready to enter Jr. High. I prayed that the Lord would give him just ONE, good, Christian friend. Just one! Someone that would think like him, hold the same values and beliefs as him, like the same things as him-like The Beatles and guitars, and someone who he could go through school with and trust to always be there. Well, I don’t think Paul even knows I did this, but you know what, God was faithful. And one Christian friend has turned into several Christian friends. Pray for your children. No matter what age they are. Pray for things you normally don’t think about-something as simple as just having one, good, Christian friend.

I have only begun my journey as a mother of teens, and I don’t pretend to know all the answers. We haven’t experienced all the trials and temptations, but I know that no matter what comes our way we will make it through because we have a Father that is guiding us.

Now I know my purpose and mission as a mother; to raise my boys to be Godly men and one day Godly husbands and fathers. Being a mother of teenagers can be overwhelming at times, and believe me if you are the mother of teenage boys you will never have enough food in the house! – But how rewarding it is. When you give your children to God, lay down your fears, and let HIM do what He has planned for their lives, you are free to enjoy these years. They can turn out to be the best ones yet. They don’t have to send you into a panic…just give them back to God.

I want to leave you with a verse that I found during my panic time. This verse speaks for my heart and is truly how I feel about my task as a mother. It is found in 3rd John, verse 4.

“I have no greater joy than to know that my children are walking with the Lord.”

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. Romans 8:26

Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died–more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:34

Have you ever stopped to think about the awesome fact that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are praying for us? It hit me this week as I came to both of these verses. We have no idea whatsoever what we need. Oh, we think we do and we offer prayer for things in our lives, difficult situations, difficult people, hurting friends, the list goes on. Always praying for help, direction, a way out. God knows we are self-centered and it seems to be human nature to be so. We are going to pray in ways that will make us feel better, but that isn’t always what needs to happen in our lives and God knew that. That is why He gave us the Holy Spirit and is why the Holy Spirit is interceding for us. The verse says that God is searching our heart…isn’t that a beautiful picture? Just think, the God of the universe, the Creator of all things, is searching your heart. He wants to know what is going on in your life. He wants to know what your thinking. Take a minute and just let that sink in. To make it even more amazing, Jesus Christ, is sitting at the right hand of the Father and is also interceding for us. I get the picture of Jesus standing before God, in front of me (sinner, saved by grace) so that He is the only one God sees. He is standing in my place, mediating for me because I don’t have any way of talking my way out of my mistakes. There is nothing I can say or do that will make things better for me, Jesus is the only One who can bring my case before God. He is speaking to the Father about me, in my behalf. Wow! And God is listening.

So, that is just a thought I had this week. The awesome realization that God has provided a way for me to reach him. He has placed the Holy Spirit within me to pray for me and also Jesus Christ is in heaven right now, interceding for me as well. What a comfort that is. So remember the next time you are praying to give your prayer over to the Holy Spirit. Pray for what is on your heart, but with the knowledge that you really don’t know what is best for you, and allow the Holy Spirit to do His work.

This past Wednesday morning was the nationwide “See You at the Pole” at our high schools. What a morning! I just love seeing young people come out early to school to sing praise songs and then join hands in prayer. This year at our school it was bigger than ever before. My son and his friend and our pastor showed up with guitars and just stood and sang as the kids filed in along with staff of the school. How bold they are! I really don’t think when I was 16 I would have been able to do that. I am so pleased with the boldness and strength both of my boys have in the Lord. They are not ashamed to say they are Christians and don’t shove it in peoples faces, but live it out day to day demonstrating Jesus’ love as they go. Kids today are searching for something and I know what it is. Jesus. They are in broken homes, unhappy homes, and look to all the wrong things to fill the void that leaves. When parents aren’t there to guide their children, or when they don’t have the Lord in their homes they are building on sand. I have tried to go it alone and it is like going upstream without a paddle. When you set your priorities and make the Lord the first one, everything else falls into place. I have to ask, why would you want to do it alone if you can have the Lord taking care of everything? When you know your kids belong to the Lord, and seek to serve Him, things are so much easier. I realize there are many kids in Christian homes that still have struggles, and maybe don’t live in a Christian manner. No one ever said being a Christian takes all the worldly troubles out of our lives, but when we have the Saviour there to guide us through these struggles with our kids we know that in the end it will all be ok. Pray for your kids morning, noon, and night. It is a dangerous world out there and they need all the prayer they can get! The Lord is faithful and He will see them through these years.

Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it. Psalm 127:1

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